Self Storage Income

There are three crucial things every self storage investor must pay attention to when building their portfolio. These are the things that helped me scale a $300M+ self storage business and grow through the Great Recession, the pandemic lockdowns, and every downturn and upturn in between.    If you get these three things right, you will be successful in self storage. Even better news? There's a huge buying opportunity right now (with more on the way).    I’ll outline everything from your self storage market, to the operations and tech you should use, to the structure of the deal (I’ll even share how much debt I have and how I structured it) so you can survive the down times, thrive during the good, and grow in the middle.    Plus, I’ll share how we’re “making” deals right now and getting facilities 40% under replacement cost with millions in walk-in equity. I wish someone had told me all this when I started, but now, I’m giving it to you in under half an hour.   What you’ll learn in today’s show:   The three things that make a self storage facility successful  Huge buying opportunities happening right now that 99% of people are missing  Measuring supply and demand: how to know your facility’s rates can grow  The technology we’re using right now to automate self storage facilities in our portfolio  How to structure debt, loans, and capital when buying a facility (exactly what I do) The due diligence clause you need to add in every self storage offer you make     —   Grab AJ’s Book, Growing Wealth in Self-Storage 2.0  - https://www.amazon.com/Growing-Wealth-Self-Storage-2-0-Post-Pandemic/dp/1735258865    TractIQ - https://tractiq.com/    Nokē Smart Entry - https://www.janusintl.com/products/noke    Hummingbird by Tenant Inc. (Self Storage Software) - https://www.tenantinc.com/products/hummingbird 

The biggest threat to your self storage revenue isn’t your market, customers, or the asset itself. It’s you. In the wake of the 2008 Great Financial Crisis, I developed a simple yet powerful framework for mastering operations, unlocking hidden revenue, and increasing valuation. And in today’s market cycle, it’s just as relevant as it was back then. At its core, it all comes down to how you view your self storage facility. Too many operators view their facilities as real estate “assets,” where they rent out “units” to “tenants.” But that mindset is fundamentally flawed. Self storage is a business, with real “customers” and different types of “products.” Once you understand this, you can begin implementing a pricing model that drives true revenue growth, and in this episode, I walk through real examples that demonstrate how these changes can impact your bottom line. The truth is, occupancy doesn’t matter. It’s about revenue. Net operating income. Real cash flow. And when you make these changes, you’ll have more of it than you know what to do with.   What you’ll learn in today’s show: The best ways to increase the revenue (and value) of your self storage facility How to implement a profitable “tiered” pricing model at your self storage facility Why it’s crucial to operate self storage as a business (not a real estate asset) The biggest opportunities available to all self storage investors in 2026 How different pricing strategies can impact your bottom line (with examples) Three storage unit “buckets” you need to track with every facility — Grab AJ’s Book, Growing Wealth in Self-Storage 2.0 

The mistake you’re about to make could sink your self storage deal. We’ve been there many times before. We’ve been too aggressive with our numbers, cut corners on due diligence, and lost money. Thankfully, you don’t have to make these same mistakes. Conner and George are shining a light on the biggest red flags and pitfalls that catch self storage investors by surprise and, in some cases, leave them with a problematic asset that bleeds money. From environmental complications to “phantom” occupancy, we address the warning signs that should tell you to walk away or at least go back to the drawing board with your self storage underwriting. The truth is that not all of these issues automatically spell doom for your self storage facility. Some roadblocks that might scare off the average investor could actually be opportunities hidden in plain sight. But preparation is the key. With real-life examples, we’ll show you exactly how to approach every deal, from deep market and competition analysis to due diligence checks and balances, so that the next self storage facility you buy is set up for success. What you’ll learn in today’s show:   11 biggest self storage deal “killers” you should (usually) walk away from Real-life due diligence blunders we’ve made in the past (don’t repeat them!) How to turn minor self storage issues into major opportunities How to protect your cash flow by properly forecasting tax and insurance costs Evaluating property improvements for their return on investment (ROI) Zoning, permitting, and title challenges that could set your self storage deal back —  Grab AJ’s Book, Growing Wealth in Self-Storage 2.0  - https://www.amazon.com/Growing-Wealth-Self-Storage-2-0-Post-Pandemic/dp/1735258865  Join the Self Storage Income Community! - https://www.selfstorageincome.com/learn  Live Oak Bank - https://www.liveoak.bank/ 

This is how to start investing in self storage, right now.  In under 25 minutes, I’m going to walk you through exactly how to go from no self storage investments to your first one. Everything from building your “buy box” to finding the deals with upside potential, financing, due diligence, increasing revenue, and repeating it to build an entire portfolio.  None of the steps I’m sharing are difficult and a beginner can follow each of them, step by step, to get their first self storage facility this year. But you’ll need to be consistent. There are opportunities out there right now—I should know, I’m heavily buying in 2026. But they won’t fall into your lap. If you’re able to spot the best self storage opportunities, present my three-offer strategy to sellers, and improve operations, you’ll have a cash-flowing, equity-building, stable asset for decades to come. I did it, too, buying small, mom-and-pop facilities for $500,000 or less.  Now, it’s your turn. You want to know how to buy a self storage facility? These are the exact steps I’d take in 2026.  What you’ll learn in today’s show: How to buy your first self storage facility by the end of 2026 Building your “buy box” and knowing what type of facility you want to buy  The value-add opportunities that will boost a facility’s value once implemented  The formula to follow to find stable, safe, opportunistic self storage markets  Three financing options to give every seller when making self storage offers Spotting the “money on the table” that will make you wealthy in self storage  — Grab AJ’s Book, Growing Wealth in Self-Storage 2.0  - https://www.amazon.com/Growing-Wealth-Self-Storage-2-0-Post-Pandemic/dp/1735258865  Join the Self Storage Income Community! - https://www.selfstorageincome.com/learn-yt 

Ever wonder how self storage investors get their hands on enough capital to purchase not just one, or two, but several self storage facilities? The truth is that many of them bring very little of their own cash to the table. Why? Because self storage isn’t just another high-risk investment or business venture. It’s an opportunity. An opportunity to make steady (and passive) returns, allocate more capital to hard assets, and take advantage of massive tax benefits. After making this crucial mindset shift, you’ll find that there’s always more than enough money out there. From non-recourse (CMBS) loans and SBA loans to capital from family, friends, and other investors, there are countless sources to tap into—if you do your research, know your numbers inside out, and pitch your self storage deal as the wealth-building opportunity it is. AJ and Conner are breaking down all of your funding options, the ideal capital “stack” for novice investors, and the fastest ways to take down your next self storage deal—even if you’re starting from zero. What you’ll learn in today’s show: The capital “stack” any investor can use to fund their next self storage deal How to pitch your next self storage investment to limited partners (LPs) The number one mistake new self storage investors make when talking to banks The different types of loans you can use to finance your self storage facility How to protect yourself (and your limited partners) when structuring agreements — Join the SSI Community - https://www.selfstorageincome.com/learn-yt 

This is how to run a storage business successfully if you’re starting from scratch.  Closing on your first self storage investment is a big deal—but it comes with a lot of questions: What management software should I use? What types of locks are best? How do I track competitor prices? How do I handle the auction and lien process if someone doesn’t pay?  It’s easy to get overwhelmed and resort to handling everything yourself, which often leads not only to a bad storage business but also to severe burnout. It doesn’t have to be like this, so today, we’re sharing our entire self storage tech stack—everything we use to run our self storage facilities (remotely!) so you can have a successful first, or next, self storage investment.  We’ll give you everything—management software, lock systems, lien automations, call and customer service providers, website hosting, and other recommendations. If this is your first self storage facility, this information could be the difference between you scaling fast or falling behind. What you’ll learn in today’s show: The expert playbook for running a self storage facility from scratch  Our complete self storage tech stack that you can use at your facility, too How to track competitors and ensure you’re pricing right in your market  Remote self storage investing? You can do it if you have these tools  Which “tech” is not worth the investment and won’t make you more money  How to join a bigger self storage “brand” with all the benefits  — Join the Self Storage Income Community    Software Mentioned in Today’s Show:  TractIQ  NowMetrics  Tenant Inc.  XPS Solutions  Patchwork Labs Storelocal  Nokē Smart Entry Ai Lean Veritec Solutions 

The self storage industry is often described as one of the safest asset classes in commercial real estate. Low default rates. Recession-proof demand. An industry that rarely goes out of business. Only a fraction of a percentage of owners ever get foreclosed on.   That story is a lie.   You’ve heard it before. You’ve probably said it to other investors, your friends, and family when they ask you why you own a self storage facility or why you want to own one.    This is not reality—and today, I’m going to show you proof that the self storage industry is riskier than investors could ever imagine. Why would I say this as someone who owns hundreds of millions in self storage? Because where there’s risk, there’s opportunity, and in 2026, the “perceived” risk is higher than ever—and so is the opportunity.   This is the biggest lie in the self storage industry, and if you believe it, even for a second, you’ll get caught buying at the worst times and sitting on the sidelines during the best. This is how I was able to buy millions in undervalued assets after 2008—and in 2026, I’m doing it all over again.     What you’ll learn in today’s show: The #1 lie in the self storage industry that is costing investors millions How I’m buying majorly discounted self storage facilities in 2026  The self storage facilities that are at the greatest risk right now and need a buyer to save them  How I predicted the self storage bubble that finally burst in 2023 The “wealth explosion” that self storage investors can expect (it won’t last)   —  Grab AJ’s Book, Growing Wealth in Self-Storage 2.0 https://www.selfstorageincome.com/book   Storage vs Multifamily: Which Investment Is ACTUALLY Safer? https://youtu.be/zwBfETBkLhU?si=xbN2w_JeS4e4BRLK   The Self Storage Bubble Bust... https://www.selfstorageincome.com/blog/the-self-storage-bubble-bust 

Is your self storage business bleeding money? Most facilities are. For every investor who’s actually building wealth with self storage, there’s another investor down the road who checks in once a month or neglects their property entirely. And if you’re acquiring one of these facilities, you have a unique opportunity to improve it on day one. Unlike investing in the stock market, where the business’s performance is beyond your control, self storage has dozens of levers you can pull to master operations, increase revenue, and ultimately, make more money. In this episode, Conner and George get into the weeds of running a profitable self storage business. We cover everything from hiring the right employees and leveraging the latest technology to fine-tuning standard operating procedures (SOPs) and implementing checks and balances that will prevent things from slipping through the cracks. These seemingly “small” adjustments can have a profound impact on your bottom line. And when you start viewing your self storage facility as both an investment and a business, that’s when things really start to get fun.   What you’ll learn in today’s show:   How to run your self storage business like a pro (and make more money) Practical ways to improve self storage operations and increase revenue Building out systems and processes that help streamline mundane tasks The essential checklist for staying on top of property maintenance Why “small” adjustments often have an enormous impact on cap rates The most common mistakes that “bad” self storage investors make — Storelocal - https://www.storelocal.com/  How to Win Friends and Influence People - https://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/0671027034   

An entire generation is disappearing, and it’s going to shake more than just the self storage industry. For years, we’ve been hearing about a “silver tsunami,” when baby boomers leave the workforce and start passing on their assets to the next generation of investors. But there’s another layer to this that people aren’t talking about, and it’s going to create a ripple effect throughout the U.S. economy: Baby boomers aren’t just retiring. They’re starting to pass away. By 2035, we’ll have witnessed an unprecedented handover of not just residential real estate but also self storage facilities. Now is one of the best times to invest in self storage because the facilities that are hitting the market are small, mom-and-pop operations that you can buy at a much lower basis than in years past. These unique buying opportunities, combined with institutional-level technology that is finally in the hands of everyday investors looking to increase revenue, could usher us into a new “golden age” for self storage. What you’ll learn in today’s show: The huge “wave” of mom-and-pop facilities that is about to hit the market Why the next 5-10 years will be one of the best times to invest in self storage The three biggest deal-killers that could derail your self storage investment How baby boomers retiring (and passing away) will reshape the U.S. economy Using dynamic pricing to boost your self storage facility’s revenue 🌳 Work with someone experienced in self storage loans at Live Oak Bank! https://www.liveoakbank.com/business-loans/self-storage/ 🎙️ Do you have a great story to share on the podcast? You can now apply here! https://form.asana.com/?k=TGU88eU0bFTFW1iHcckuTA&d=1203571084143207 📖 Get AJ's book that teaches you everything he knows about self-storage https://a.co/d/aRSKcSq 

Self storage is boring. You rent out metal boxes, tenants pay you to use them, and hopefully, you make a profit. But today’s guest is turning it into one of the most exciting asset classes with technology that streamlines operations and improves the customer experience in ways that weren’t possible until now. The best part? Investors are slashing their overhead costs by up to 10%, giving them a new competitive advantage when analyzing and buying self storage facilities. Today, Conner and George sit down with Tyler Harper from Patchwork Labs to discuss how he’s leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) within his self storage business. Tyler and his team aren’t just software developers. They’re investors who build solutions for their own problems—the same issues all self storage operators deal with day in and day out. With these tools, they’re not only automating self storage and running their business 100% remotely but also scaling at a pace that is unimaginable for most—buying a new facility per week. Tyler shares how these products provide enormous value for smaller operators, how AI is reshaping the self storage industry, and why investors must adapt in 2026 or get left behind. What you’ll learn in today’s show: Self storage tools that help lower overhead costs and boost your bottom line Behind the software Tyler and his team developed specifically for self storage investors How artificial intelligence (AI) is disrupting the self storage industry in 2026 Why smaller investors should target self storage facilities in tertiary markets How to use new technology to improve, automate, and scale your self storage business — Patchwork Labs Try Patchwork Labs’ Conversational Voice AI, AVA: (707) 754-1658 Homegrown Storage

Self storage analysis is a guessing game. Or at least, it was.  But everything has changed. In this episode, Noah Starr, CEO of TractIQ, returns with an announcement that fundamentally changes the way we find and buy self storage deals. For years, an investor’s biggest advantage wasn’t having a ton of capital or mastering operations. It was information. And with everyone being overly protective of their data, the self storage industry was actively killing itself. But not anymore. TractIQ’s latest release puts verified occupancy and financial performance data in the hands of everyday investors—not just the REITs. Having this data available at scale levels the playing field for smaller operators and allows them to make better business decisions across the board. Whether you’re looking to buy your first self storage facility, increase revenue, or hire a property management company, you no longer have to depend on peripheral metrics and projections. The lights are on. We weren’t supposed to have this data for years. But now that it’s here, you have everything you need to take advantage of one of the best times to buy self storage. What you’ll learn in today’s show: How TractIQ’s latest release levels the playing field for smaller investors Finding better self storage deals with new occupancy and financial performance data Why better data creates more opportunity (not competition) in your market Why self storage analysis has largely been a “guessing game” over the last five years How to use competitor data to hire the right property management company — TractIQ Deal for SSI Community Members - https://tractiq.com/special-pricing  TractIQ - https://tractiq.com/  Noah’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/noah-starr 

There’s a strategy that smart investors use to take down multiple self storage deals in a relatively short amount of time, all while “recycling” the cash they initially put into that first deal. Tony McNickle and Dennis Pham used this exact blueprint to buy their first two deals, and it won’t be long before they’ll have built an entire portfolio of cash-flowing self storage facilities. After connecting through our Inner Circle community just a few years ago, Tony and Dennis formed a partnership, combined their capital, and melded their expertise in small business and commercial real estate. It was the perfect pairing, as within a few months, they already had their first deal under contract—a 20,000-square-foot, mom-and-pop facility they were able to improve and stabilize before pulling 150% of their cash back out. Then, with confidence and capital from that first deal, Tony and Dennis took down a much larger, 71,000-square-foot property and plan to repeat the process all over again. In this episode, they walk through both of these deals, discuss the many advantages of partnerships, and share the hybrid management model they’re using to streamline self storage operations while maintaining a personal touch.   What you’ll learn in today’s show: How Tony and Dennis found, bought, and stabilized their self storage facilities “Recycling” 100% (or more) of your capital with a cash-out refinance Supercharging your investments and scaling fast through the power of partnerships Nurturing face-to-face seller relationships to find better self storage deals Simple, high-ROI upgrades to implement within your self storage business — Join the Self Storage Income Community - https://www.selfstorageincome.com/inner-circle  DXT Partners - https://www.dxtpartners.com/ 

2026 could be the biggest year for self storage investors since 2008. What happens starting in 2026, and going all the way through 2030, could change your life forever if you’re in the game.   Read any self storage industry news, and it says the same thing: “Oversupply! Low Demand! Rate Cuts!” But this surface-level story doesn’t show what’s really about to happen. The self storage market is about to undergo a reversal that most operators have never seen. An “explosion” in wealth that will make many owners rich, not only in cash flow but in equity. This isn’t just speculation—I’ve got the data to prove it.   In today’s show, I’m giving you my full 2026 self storage industry outlook, sharing the seven factors that could trigger a ticking time bomb of demand that could explode in the coming years, bringing massive wealth to owners, while many investors will wish they had gotten into self storage earlier.    But not every market will see the same effects. Don’t worry, I’m outlining exactly what’s coming.    What you’ll learn in today’s show:   The wealth “explosion” coming for the self storage industry in 2026 - 2030 One thing that will trigger a new wave of demand for self storage in America  A 2008 repeat? Why we haven’t seen buying opportunities like this in years  A supply squeeze like we’ve never seen: what happens when demand peaks as supply craters? Cap rate compression? This could be your last chance to get severely underpriced deals Markets with the most (and least) opportunity for rising storage demand in 2026 (and beyond)  — Grab AJ’s Newest Book, Growing Wealth in Self-Storage 2.0 - https://www.amazon.com/Growing-Wealth-Self-Storage-2-0-Post-Pandemic/dp/1735258865/  Invest with Cedar Creek Capital - https://cedar.cc/ 

2025 was a pivotal year for the self storage industry—but 2026 is about to be even bigger. We could get opportunities we haven’t seen in 15 years, but the buying window won’t last long. We’re taking full advantage, and in today’s episode, we’re outlining our exact 2026 plan.   We’re ringing in the New Year by sharing what we bought, sold, refinanced, and decided to hold in 2025. In the middle of 2025, things started to change—quickly. We’ve been buying up self storage as fast as we possibly can, because if you knew what we do, you wouldn’t be waiting on the sidelines. Interest rates are gradually falling, Americans are ready to move again, and storage demand could be rising. But sellers…they’re tired. The past few years have been hard, and you can take advantage.   The buying window is wide open, but it won’t last long. And this isn’t just blind faith. I’ll share the facts that tee up 2026 as a crucial year for growing wealth in self storage, plus how small investors can get ahead and build massive wealth once the “explosion” coming for storage starts to count down. And yes, I’ll even share a hint at my 2026 outlook and when I expect opportunities to reach their peak.    What you’ll learn in today’s show: Why 2026 could be the year that self storage “explodes” and demand surges  What we bought, sold, and refinanced in 2025 (and what we’re buying more of in 2026) How long the buying window for self storage deals will last (get on it!) Enormous opportunities for small investors as the Baby Boomer fire sale continues  Can’t find deals? This is precisely what we’re doing to get opportunities sent to us Our 2026 self storage outlook and investing plan for the next year  — Join AJ’s Self Storage Income Community!  - https://www.selfstorageincome.com/inner-circle  Self Storage Income 315 - Self Storage Could Be the Biggest Winner of Lower Interest Rates - https://www.selfstorageincome.com/podcasts/self-storage-income-2/episodes/2149089861